AUTOMATIC FIRE ALARM.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4430, 22 March 1930, Page 3

AUTOMATIC FIRE ALARM.

BOARD discusses INSTALLATION.

At yesterday's meeting of the foxton Fire Board a good deal of discussion took place relative to the installation of an electricallyoperated, automatic lire alarm, which the Board recently decided 'to instal. The discussion arose through a quotation received for the work which did not make it clear as to how many alarm plugs were to be included in the installation at the price quoted. The secretary reported that it ■was proposed to place an alarm box outside the five station and one in Main Street in addition to one in the station and one in the telephone exchange. The estimated cost of installation for the siren with box in the exchange and outside the station was £SB 1/-. Mr. J. K. Hornblow did not consider there would be any necessity for an alarm outside the station as there would he one inside.

Mr. Gray agreed with Mr. Hornblow on the matter and said the great,thing about the proposed installation was that every telephone would become a fire alarm. The subscriber immediately rang the exchange in case of fire and the clerk pushed a button in the exchange which operated the alarm which continued to ring until shut off by one of the brigade. The chairman intimated that the cost of an extra alarm box would he within £lO. Mr. Perreau said it would be advisable to have a box in the street in the event of there being no telephone near at hand. Mr. Hornblow said an extra box meant extra expense to the Board and no provision was made in the estimates for such installation. Mr. Perreau said the whole expense could ill be afforded and considered the installation of the automatic alarm live years ahead of its time. Mi’. J. K. Hornblow: Possibly it’s five years behind! Air. Gray said that once the in - stallation was in the brigade would be thoroughly up-to-date. In further commenting on the matter Mr. Perreau said he would rather see a complete installation seeing that the Board had decided on an automatic alarm rather than spoil the installation for the sake of a small extra expenditure. 'Superintendent H. Reid detailed the work required in connection with the installation and said it was proposed to erect the siren on top of the bell tower.

It was decided to get in touch with the Power Board on the matter of cost of installation,